ONE-TIME “Prince of Wales” Richie Burnett was at the summit of the professional darts world in 1995 – but today the former world number one is on the dole in Cwmparc, struggling to feed his children.

He quit the sport six years ago after the toll it took on family life sapped his confidence.

Before that, in the mid-1990s, he’d brushed aside Raymond Van Barneveld to claim his first world crown, notched up the BDO World Championships and the Winmau World Masters – where he was twice runner-up in each – besides capturing the Danish Open, Dutch Open and British Matchplay titles of the day.

With two sons, Lloyd, 12, and Taine, six, from his previous marriage, Burnett said: “Working, playing darts and looking after my children all at the same time was just impossible. I couldn’t do it.

“I wanted to spend time with my family.”

Now newlywed Burnett, 42, wants to get back into the professional sport – but where Barneveld has earned £227,357 so far this year, Burnett has been without a job for five months and on benefits.

As things stand, he can’t afford the £100 entrance fee for competitions, so he’s looking for sponsors to get back into a sport that attracts £6m in sponsorship and where winning an major tournament can today mean a £250,000 paycheque compared to £34,000 in his heyday.

He said: “I am still a young man in darts terms – at the age when players come into their peak.

“My throwing action hasn’t changed. I am still hitting 180s on the trot and doing things other players can’t do.

“I definitely think I have the ability to be world champion again.

“I’ve always said that if I was ever going to play darts, I would only do it if I could give it 100%.

“I have got my feet on the ground now. My life is stable and all it needs is a little push in the right direction.

“Having sponsors would allow me to relax and enjoy my darts and that is when I will be at my best.

“There are six or seven qualifying tournaments before the 2010 World Championships.

“I’m not kidding myself – it is not going to be easy.

“There are no mugs playing professional darts but I know I am good enough.